Update on China's Military Buildup

The annual report from the U.S. Defense Department to Congress, which is called "Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2009," gives an impressive catalog of efforts by China to supply its armed forces with weapons that can be used to intimidate and attack Taiwan and finesse U.S. superiority of naval and air power. The report describes how China's military modernization is continuing rapidly. China has never admitted that Taiwan is another country; China considers Taiwan a break-away province that China expects to take over some day despite America's promise to defend Taiwan against attack.

The Chinese military appears to have embarked on modernization programs that would allow it to fight and win short conflicts fought with new weapons all along its borders. To counter U.S. advantages, China has invested in new technologies for cyber- and space-warfare, in addition to modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and expanding and improving its fleet of submarines. China also plans to build several new aircraft carriers.

It's a serious problem for the United States that Communist China is America's biggest foreign creditor, holding an estimated $1 trillion in U.S. government debt. With the world economy in danger, U.S. dealings with China can become very delicate.

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